VILLAGERS who were repeatedly plagued by power cuts during the winter are hopeful that work to replace cables will put an end to the problems.

In November and December 2009, people living in different parts of Shalford, just outside Guildford, were disrupted by at least four major power cuts, which meant lights, machines and heating were off for up to 24 hours.

Schools were shut and shops remained unlit during one of the busiest times of the year.

Now EDF energy, the power provider for the area, has begun a general improvement programme with work started to replace underground electricity cables between Ashley Gardens and Rices Bridge in Shalford.

EDF is now seeking planning permission to remove overhead lines and wooden poles across Bradstone Brook allotments and to replace them with an underground cable, which according to EDF, is less likely to be disturbed, causing blackouts.

Among those worst affected by the power cuts was the Enchanted Wood toy shop in Kings Road.

Store manager Sarah Morris said: “I think the worst time was just before Christmas, we had had about four around that time. It does affect the business, because you can’t use the till, or the card machine, it makes it difficult because most people use cards these days.”

She added: “It’s really positive that they’re going to do something about it now, we’re really pleased.”

Shalford mother, Catherine Houston who was also inconvenienced by the blackouts, said: “I think probably the fact they’re sorting out that’s a good thing. Hopefully this is not just a catch up, or a patch up job and that they’re actually doing work that’s going to last. I just hope we don’t have the same problems in winter.

“We had three or four power cuts, it disrupted the schools, mothers were not being able to because the schools couldn’t keep the children warm, people couldn’t work it disrupted everything.”

A spokesman for EDF said that the underground network would make electricity supplies less susceptible to disturbance during stormy weather, when snow, wind and wind-borne debris, such as branches, can affect the lines.

He added: “We hope people will understand the need for this work to be undertaken and would like to assure them it will be carried out with the utmost consideration for the community.”